Undergarment



H. c. SHELTON UNDERGARMENT April u, 195o Filed March 1l, 1948 IIIUUHHUH Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE UNDERGARMEN T Hannah C. Shelton, New York, N. Y., assigner' of one-tenth -to Edna J. De Mello l Application March 11, 1948, Serial N0. 14,231 i 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination undergarment for women in which a girdle, rpetticoat and garter belt are all combined into a single unitary combination.

The principal `object of the invention is to provide a garment of this type in which all hooks, eyes and zippers or other fastening means are eliminated and which will give a smooth, smart look when worn under a dress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment of this type which can be pulled on over the head, or stepped into and pulled into place, and yet, when worn, will lit smoothly and snugly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment of this type in which the girdle is designed to give the new wasp or small waist-line eiect, in which the hips are released rather than held in.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a garment of this type in which a plurality of stays are removably secured in an elastic girdle in such a manner that they can be readily removed so that the garment can be worn with or without stays, as desired.

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which- Fig. 1 is a View showing the garment in position on a wearer;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the garment, showing it as it appears when it is layed out fiat;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the rear of the garment; and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which all the component parts of the garment are secured together.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, my improved garment comprises generally a girdle I, petticoat 2 and garters 3 all suitably secured together to form a single unitary combination undergarment.

'I'he girdle I is made in the form of an endless band from elastic fabric having only a oneway stretch which is circumferentially of the band. The mid-section 4 of the front of the band is wider than other sections thereof so as to provide adequate support for the mid-riff of the wearer. From the lower front mid-point 5 the lower edge of the band slopes gradually upwardly to each side thereof, as indicated at 6, and thence gradually downwardly to the lower rear midpoint 'I. The upper edge of the band slopes gradually downwardly to each side from the up- 2 per front mid point 8, as indicated at 9, and then extends straight across the back, as .indicated at Il). This -construction of .the girdle causes it to engage the waist of the wearer above the hips so as to hold the waist in and release the hips, thus giving to the wearer the new wasp or small waist-line effect.

A plurality of vertical stay pockets II, open at their upper ends, as indicated at I2, and closed at their lower ends, are suitably secured, in spaced relation, to the inner wall of the band. Suitable stays I3 of standard construction are disposed in the pockets II. These stays are readily removable through the open ends I 2 of the pockets so that the garment can be worn with or without stays as desired. Also, the stays can be quickly removed and inserted before and after laundering the garment.

The petticoat 2 is made of any suitable material as desired. The top thereof is gathered in as indicated at I and is sewed to the lower end of the girdle. Preferably the upper edge of the petticoat is first turned under and then sewed to the girdle as shown at I5. In this way the seam and the upper edge of the petticoat are hidden, giving the garment a smooth, smart look and causing it to fit snugly under a dress. The gathering of the upper end of the petticoat before sewing it to the girdle serves to allow the girdle to stretch without being impeded by the inelastic material of the petticoat. Also the upper end of the petticoat can stretch with thel girdle.

The garters 3 each comprise an elastic strip I6 having an hose clasp I'I secured to the lower end thereof. There are four of these garters as shown, two at the front of the garment and one at each side thereof. The strips i6 have their upper ends sewed to the lower end of the girdle, as indicated at I8, and hang downwardly therefrom within the petticoat.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a very simple garment for accomplishing the objects of my invention. It is of simple construction and easily manufactured and the design is such as to afford comfort to the wearers and yet will fit smoothly and snugly, and will give a smooth smart look when worn under a dress.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a womans undergarment the combination of a girdle formed from an endless band of elastic material and shaped to engage the waist of the wearer above the hips, a petticoat permanently secured to the lower edge of said girdle,

3 the lower edge of said girdle sloping gradually downwardly from the sides thereof to a mid-point in the front thereof.

2. In a womans undergarment the combina tion of a girdle formed from an endless band of elastic material and shaped to engage the waist of a wearer above the hips, a petticoat permanently secured to the lower edge of said girdle, the front of said girdle being wider than the sides thereof, and the lower edge of said girdle sloping gradually downwardly from the sides thereof to a mid-point in the front thereof, and the upper edge of said girdle sloping gradually upwardly from the sides thereof to a mid-point in the front thereof.

3. In a womans undergarment, the combination of a girdle formed from an endless band of elastic material and shaped to engage the waist of a wearer above the hips, the front of said girdle being wider than the sides thereof, and the lower edge of said girdle sloping gradually downwardly from the sides thereof to a mid-point in the front thereof, and the upper edge of said girdle sloping gradually upwardly from the sides thereof to a mid-point in the front thereof, a petticoat permanently secured to the lower edge of said girdle, and a plurality of garters secured to said girdle and hanging downwardly therefrom within said petticoat.

HANNAH C. SHELTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

